Spray pump



May 4, 1965 P. KELLER 3,181,796

SPRAY PUMP Filed July 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Rzal Kai er A TTORNEYS y 4, 1965 P. KELLER 3,181,796

SPRAY PUMP Filed July 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ivy-'5 a4 37 1 5O z I Las i INVENTOR.

-Paa Hex er Z i TOM EYS United States Patent 3,181,796 SPRAY PUMP PaulKeller, Coon Rapids, Minn., assignor to The Cornelius Company, Anoka,Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 1, 1963, Ser. No. 291,752 6Claims. (Cl. 239-216) This invention relates generally to a spray pump,and more specifically to novel structural features thereof.

The term spray pump as used herein refers to a member which is rotatedabout its axis with its lower end inserted in a sump so that liquid inthe sump is drawn by centrifugal force along a surface of such pump ormember to a point Where such liquid is centrifugally discharged orsprayed.

The present invention is directed tospecific structure for such a pumpby which the same is more efficiently manufactured and operated. Inparticular, where such a pump is made hollow for internal liquid flow,it is necessary to provide a discharge aperture, and it is desirablethat such member be so constructed that access may be had to theinterior thereof for cleaning. Further, in operation, it has been notedthat the effect of inertia on liquid in the sump has been such as tolessen the efiiciency of the pump.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved structure for a spray pump.

A further object of the present invention is to provide structure whichmay be readily assembled and disassembled for cleaning without use oftools.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide structureby which the discharge aperture is accurately provided.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connectionbetween portions of the pump for holding such portions together, suchconnection serving the further function of defining the liquid dischargeaperture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide spray pumpstructure by which liquid which has been picked up will be moreefiiciently propelled.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide structure bywhich liquid in the sump which has not been picked up will be precludedfrom moving to efi'iciency-destroying positions.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description and to the accompanying sheets ofdrawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a spray pump which is provided inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIGURE 2;V

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken alongline IVIV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V-V ofFIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodiedina spray pump for a liquid, such as water, such as the pump illustratedin FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 19. The spray pumpincludes a hollow member 11, a cap 12, a detachable connection 13between the member 11 and the cap 12, a motor 14 having a drivingconnection with the cap 12, and a liquid sump generally indicated at 15.

The hollow member 11 has an apertured lower end 16 extending into thesump 15, and into which liquid may flow by gravity. The interior of thehollow member 11 includes an upwardly diverging interior conical surface17 which emerges with a larger diameter interior surface, such largerdiameter interior surface here including a further conical surface 18and a cylindrical surface 19. Surrounding the interior conical surface17, there is an external cylindrical surface 20 which also extends intothe sump 15 and which is of such length as to extend upwardly fromliquid therein. At the larger diameter interior surface, and near theupper end thereof, there is provided a number of liquid-dischargeapertures 21 which communicate with the interior surface 18, theaperture 21 in FIGURE 1 being illustrated as being at the upper edge ofthe cylindrical portion or surface 19.

The cap 12 is cup-shaped and opens in a downwardly directed direction sothat it receives the upper cylindrical portion 22 of the member 11. Theupper or closed end 23 of the cap 12 thus closes the upper end of thelarger diameter interior surface and prevents upward escape of liquid.The closed upper end 23 of the cap 12 further comprises the means bywhich the member 11 is supported and rotated.

The motor 14 has a shaft 24 which rigidly supports a flange 25 to whichthe cap 12 is secured as by a pair of screws 26, 26 (FIGURE 3) forcorotation.

In operation, the motor 14 acting through the shaft 24, the flange 25,and the cap 12, drives or rotates the member 11 about a vertical axiswith its lower end projecting into a liquid in the sump 15; Rotation ofthe conical surface 17 imparts rotational movement to liquid therein,thereby providing a centrifugal force thereto. Under the influence ofsuch centrifugal force, the liquid within the conical surface 17 isdirected against the conical surface 17, and because of the slopethereof, such liquid is caused to flow upwardly in a diverging manneralong the conical surface 17, the larger diameter surface 18, and thelarger diameter surface 19. In its upward flow, the centrifugal force isincreased owing to the increase in length of moment arm, the liquidultimately being discharged as a flow or spray through the aperture 21.

The liquid sump 15 includes a reservoir or tray 27 V which receives aquantity of liquid. Due to surface tension, there is a tendency forliquid to rise along the outer surface of the member 11. Therefore, andto preclude such movement, the cylindrical exterior surface 20 serves asa trap to prevent upward escape of liquid from the sump. If the liquidwere allowed to flow upwardly along' the exterior of the member 11, itwould be flung therefrom at a point below the level or height of theaperture 21, whereby there would be little or no control as to the pointof impingement or the direction in which the spray is directed. Theexternal cylindrical surface 20 thus serves to prevent a liquid loss oretficiency loss due to an unwanted secondary type pumping.

- The sump 15 further includes stationary baflle means 28, 28 disposedin the liquid, and extending radially to the cylindrical surface 20.There is a tendency for the cylindrical surface 20 to cause the externalwater or liquid to spin, and to form a vortex within the sump 15,thereby limiting the height of liquid within the conical surface 17.

Accordingly, the baffle means 28 serve to break up or prevent suchvortex formation, thereby producing a level of liquid within theconical-surface 17 which is higher,

and hence more eflicient, than would be the caseif the due to inertia ofrest. In order to ensure that the liquid within the conical surface 17will be provided with a maximum of centrifugal force, there is providedfurther baflie means 29, 29 within the conical surface 17, the bafilemeans 29 being supported by the member 11. The baiiie means 29, as bestseen in FIGURE 5, comprise a pair of elongated fins or paddles whichcarry the liquid along rotationally so that the centrifugal forcepresent within the conical surface 17 is applied to a maximum volume ofthe liquid therein. The structural detail of the baffle means 29 isexemplary, and the baflle means 29 may be constructed in any particularmanner which will ensure such corotation of the liquid with the conicalsurface 17.

The connection 13 which joins the member 11 to the cap 12 is detachable,is preferably of the bayonet type, and preferably also defines theliquid discharge aperture 21. To that end, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and3, the wall 30 of the cap 12 is provided with means which defines a slot31, the slot 31 extending in a direction parallel to the rotational axisof the cap 12, and extending through the wall 30. At the upper end ofthe slot 31, there is a branch portion or slot 32 defined in part by aramp or cam 33, the slot 31 extending upwardly into the interior surfaceof the closed end 23 of the cap 12. The member 11 has an ear 34 which isrigid therewith. The ear 34 is of such width as to be freely slidablyreceivable in the slot 31 when the member 11 is inserted into the cap12. Thereafter, relative rotation between the cap 12 and the member 11directs the ear 34 into the branch portion or slot 32, the ear 34coacting with the ramp or cam 33 to draw the member 11 upwardly into thecap 12 in tightly seated relation to the inner surface of the closed end23 thereof. By reversing these movements, the member 11 and the cap 12may be disassembled for cleaning.

As shown in FIGURE 3, there are preferably provided three such slots 31which may be uniformly spaced. The upper end of each of the slots 31, asbest seen in FIGURE 4, comprises a recess 35 which opens into the innersurface 36 of the closed end 23 of the cap 12, which extends adjacent tothe upper end of the member 11, and which opens radially outwardly todefine the upper and the lateral edges of the aperture 21. The loweredge of the aperture 21 is defined by the upper edge of the member 11which seats firmly against the interior end surface 36. An annulargroove 37 in the interior surface 36 adjacent to the upper edge of themember 11 receives liquid from the larger diameter surface 19 andcommunicates such liquid to the various recesses 35.

Where the cap 12 is produced by molding, the slot 31 is formed by a pinhaving a cylindrical configuration. Where the slot 31 is to be performedby machining, it may be made by a circular cutter or borer. Suchproduction tool is so disposed that it projects through or breaksthrough the wall 30 to define the slot 31, and such tool projectsaxially beyond the plane of the surface 36 to provide at the end of theslot 31, the recess 35 which is nearly circular. The cap 12 has a skirtor flange 38 of increased external diameter through which suchproduction tool would extend to define a circular opening 39, therebyproviding clearance for movement of the ear 34 therethrough.

Thus, the ear 34 and the slots 31, 32 provide a detachable bayonetconnection between the member 11 and the cap 12, the slot-defining means31 further defining the recess 35 by which the liquid discharge aperture21 is provided. The cam or ramp 33 thus acts on the ear 34 to bring theupper edge of the member 11 into seating engagement with the surface 36,thereby controlling or closely regulating the effective size of theaperture 21.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(12) said member having an apertured lower end with an upwardlydiverging interior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(0) said member having a larger diameter interior surface with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cap adapted to be rotatably driven and closing the upper end ofsaid larger diameter surface; and (e) means comprising a bayonetconnection between said member and said cap, said connection constructedas to define a radially directed liquid-discharge aperture.

2. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(b) said member having anapertured lower end with an upwardly diverginginterior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(c) said member having a larger diameter interior surface with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cup-shaped cap adapted to be rotatably driven, and receiving andclosing the upper end of said larger diameter surface;

(6) means defining a slot extending through the wall of said cap andextending in an axial direction beyond said member, said slot having abranch portion extending transversely to said direction, saidslot-defining means and said member jointly defining a radially directedliquid-discharge aperture; and

(1) an ear rigid with said member and movable through said slot intosaid branch portion to form a detachable connection between said memberand said cap.

3. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(12) said member having an apertured lower end with an upwardlydiverging interior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(0) said member having a larger diameter interior surface with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cup-shaped cap adapted to be rotatably driven, and receiving andclosing the upper end of said larger diameter surface;

(e) means defining a slot extending through the wall of said cap, andextending in an axial direction beyond said member, said slot-definingmeans and said member jointly defining a radially directedliquiddischarge aperture;

(f) means defining a branch slot extending transversely to saiddirection but sloping toward said upper end; and

(g) an ear rigid with said member and movable through said slot intosaid branch slot to form a detachable connection between said member andsaid cap, said ear being cammable by said branch-slot defining means toeffect partial closing of said liquid-discharge aperture to apredetermined size.

4. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(b) said member having an apertured lower end with an upwardly diverginginterior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(0) said member having a larger diameter interior surface with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cup-shaped cap adapted to be rotatably driven, and receiving andclosing the upper end of said larger diameter surface; and

(e) means defining a recess in the inner side .of the closed end of saidcap, said recess extending radially enemas past said upper end of saidmember and through the wall of said cap to define with said upper end aliquid-discharge aperture communicating with said larger diameterinterior surface of said member.

5. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(b) said member having an apertured lower end with an upwardly diverginginterior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(c) said member having a larger diameter interior surface with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cup-shaped cap adapted to be rotatably driven, and receiving andclosing the upper end of said larger diameter surface;

(e) means defining a plurality of recesses in the inner side of theclosed end of said cap, each of said recesses extending radially pastsaid upper end of said member and through the wall of said cap, saidrecesses defining with said upper end a corresponding plurality ofliquid-discharge apertures; and

(1) an annular groove in said inner side of said cap adjacent to saidlarger diameter interior surface, and connecting said recesses together.

6. A spray pump comprising:

(a) a hollow member;

(b) a said member having an apentured lower end with an upwardlydiverging interior conical surface for being disposed in a liquid;

(c) said member having a larger diameter interior sur- 6 face with whichsaid interior conical surface communicates and extending upwardlytherefrom;

(d) a cup-shaped cap adapted to be rotatably driven, and receiving andclosing the upper end of said larger diameter surface;

(e) means defining a slot through the wall of said cap terminating in arecess in the inner side of the closed end of said cap at said upper endof said member, said recess and said upper end jointly defining aradially directed liquid-discharge aperture;

(f) means defining a branch slot extending transversely to and connectedwith said slot; and

(3) an ear rigid with said member and movable through said slot intosaid branch slot to form a detachable connection between said member andsaid cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,797 6/32Braemer 239-2l5 2,149,921 3/36 Lea 239217 2,157,416 5/39 Kjos 2392162,766,071 10/56 Flury 239-217 3,110,748 11/63 Myklebust 239216 FORElGNPATENTS 523,157 3/56 Canada. 860,708 12/52 Germany.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

3O EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner.

1. A SPRAY PUMP COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW MEMBER; (B) SAID MEMBER HAVINGAN APERTURED LOWER END WITH AN UPWARDLY DIVERGING INTERIOR CONICALSURFACE FOR BEING DISPOSED IN A LIQUID; (C) SAID MEMBER HAVING A LARGERDIAMETER INTERIOR SURFACE WITH WHICH SAID INTERIOR CONICAL SURFACECOMMUNICATES AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM; (D) A CAP ADAPTED TO BEROTATABLY DRIVEN AND CLOSING THE UPPER END OF SAID LARGER DIAMETERSURFACE; AND (E) MEANS COMPRISING A BAYONET CONNECTION BETWEEN SAIDMEMBER AND SAID CAP, SAID CONNECTION CONSTRUCTED AS TO DEFINE A RADIALLYDIRECTED LIQUID-DISCHARGE APERTURE.